UPDATE - November 5, 2026:

The GBI and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office have charged eight additional people in connection with the shooting that occurred in Vienna, GA, on October 4, 2026.

The following people have been arrested:

  • Latravis Keonta Bentley, age 19, of Vienna, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
  • Ty’Darrious Ty’Jai Dawson, age 19, of Cordele, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
  • Devontre Jaquon Holton, age 23, of Cordele, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
  • Demari Jaheem Nixon, age 23, of Cordele, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
  • Kahdarious Kayvon Ray, age 17, of Vienna, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
  • Keontae Towns, age 16, of Cordele, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm Under the age of 21.

Holton and Nixon were booked into the Crisp County Jail. Dawson and Ray were booked into the Dooly County Jail. Bentley was booked into the Houston County Jail.

The following people are not in custody at this time and are considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach or attempt to contact them. If you see these individuals or have information regarding their whereabouts, move to a safe location and call 911 immediately.

  • Brexton Esamuel Gaston, age 19, of Cordele, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
  • Vanravious Rashad Williams, age 34, of Perry, GA, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, and Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity.

At this time, 10 people have been charged in connection with this incident.

A total of 44 people were injured in the shooting. Twenty-eight of the victims sustained gunshot wounds, including Ja’Quavion Aderious Jackson and Macaleb Malik Jackson, who died as a result of their injuries. Sixteen of the victims sustained other injuries during the incident.

The GBI’s Perry Regional Investigative Office, the Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC), Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit, and numerous GBI Regional Investigative Offices, Gang Task Force Units, and Regional Drug Enforcement Offices participated in this investigation.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Cordele Police Department, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, Turner County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) assisted in this investigation.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at (478) 987-4545. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia for review and prosecution.

UPDATE - October 14, 2026:

The GBI and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office have arrested and charged Kelcey Smith, age 36, and Johntavirous Robinson, age 40, both of Cordele, GA, with two counts of Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Tampering with Evidence.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests are expected.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at (478) 987-4545. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

UPDATE - October 9, 2026:

The GBI and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office have arrested and charged Khadarius “KD” Ray, age 17, of Dooly County, GA, with one count of Possession of a Firearm/Handgun Under the Age of 18 and one count of Participating in Criminal Street Gang Activity, in connection with the shooting in Vienna, GA, on October 4, 2026.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests are expected.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at (478) 987-4545. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

UPDATE - October 4, 2026:

The victims killed in this shooting have been identified as Ja’Quavion Aderious Jackson, age 21, of Cordele, GA, and Macaleb Malik Jackson, age 23, of Hawkinsville, GA.

The condition of the 35 injured victims range from stable to critical.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at (478) 987-4545. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

WATCH the news conference here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QB5jQtdnoMk?is=-jQIiZE1bVy0ElYm

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Vienna, Dooly County, GA (October 4, 2026) – The GBI is investigating a shooting in Vienna, GA, that left two people dead and 35 people injured. The Dooly County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) requested the GBI to assist with the investigation.

Preliminary information indicates that at about 1:25 a.m., on October 4, 2026, DCSO deputies were on patrol at a neighborhood block party when shots were fired from the 900 block of Pine Street in Vienna, GA. Deputies immediately responded to the area and discovered multiple people had been shot. Deputies also found two people in the 600 block of Pine Street that were pronounced deceased on scene. Victims were taken to several regional hospitals for treatment.

The two deceased victims will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office, where autopsies will be conducted.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at (478) 987-4545. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.

Contact

Special Agent in Charge Jerry Jones

[email protected]